Ex-Ill. lawmaker elected to succeed Jackson Jr.

Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 5:30 a.m. CST

Caption

(Charles Rex Arbogast)

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2013 file photo, Robin Kelly celebrates her special primary election win in Matteson, Ill., for Illinois' 2nd Congressional District seat, once held by Jesse Jackson Jr. She faces Republican challenger Paul McKinley in the April 9, 2013 special election. Kelly, will have quite a challenge ahead after Tuesday's election in the overwhelmingly Democratic district, if she wins as expected: She'll have to fill the shoes of Jackson, whose name and seniority allowed him to bring home lots of bacon, and she'll have to withstand the spotlight of having won with the help of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's anti-gun money. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

By SOPHIA TAREEN -
The Associated Press

CHICAGO – Former Illinois state Rep. Robin Kelly, whose campaign received a $2 million boost from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, easily captured Tuesday’s special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

The win for the Matteson Democrat was widely expected as the Chicago-area district, which Jackson represented from 1995 until late last year, has been a Democratic stronghold for roughly six decades. Kelly emerged from a crowded field in the February primary by focusing heavily on anti-gun efforts and was helped by ads from Bloomberg’s super PAC.

Kelly, 56, vowed to become a leader in the federal fight for gun control legislation and echoed the same promise after her win.

“I’ll continue to speak about it in the district. I’ll continue to be in touch with those who have lost their children. I’ll speak out where I can in D.C.,” she told The Associated Press before her victory speech to supporters in Matteson.

She won over Republican Paul McKinley, three independent candidates and a Green Party candidate in the district that includes Chicago neighborhoods, suburbs and rural areas.

Her win also marked the end of an era for the voters that had supported Jackson at the polls with healthy majorities each election after he took office. Jackson, a Chicago Democrat, stepped down in November after a mysterious medical leave where full details were never disclosed to the public. He cited his health and also acknowledged that he was under federal investigation in his resignation letter.

Months later he pleaded guilty to charges that he misspent $750,000 in campaign funds on everything from toilet paper to furs.

Jackson was the third congressman in the district to leave under an ethical cloud and many voters said Tuesday that they were just ready for a change.

“It hurt my heart. I had him up here on a pedestal,” said Robert Pierson, a Dolton resident who cast a ballot for Kelly on Tuesday. “I hope this time we are going to get it right.”

Other voters said it was Kelly’s attention to anti-gun efforts that made her an attractive candidate. Guns became the top issue during the campaign – particularly before the primary – and ads from Bloomberg’s super PAC played up that Kelly supports an assault weapons ban. The television spots also targeted one of her primary opponents, former one-term U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, who has received favorable ratings in the past from the National Rifle Association.

Some voters, and certainly Kelly’s candidates, questioned the outside involvement in the race. There were allegations of Kelly colluding with Bloomberg. She later dismissed any notions of working with Bloomberg, which is prohibited.

However, some voters on Tuesday said they didn’t mind Bloomberg’s involvement, particularly on the issue of guns and violence. The election comes as Chicago has seen an uptick in murders.

After her primary win, Kelly received praise from Bloomberg and Vice President Joe Biden, and she recently received an endorsement from President Barack Obama, who noted her anti-gun efforts.

When Kelly heads to Washington she will face other challenges. She’ll be taking over after Jackson, a nearly 17-year incumbent with a spot on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Despite Jackson’s legal problems at the end of his career — he was under a House Ethics Committee investigation for ties to ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich — he brought home close to $1 billion in federal money to the district. He also had strong ties with community leaders and a family legacy. His was a former Chicago City Council member and he’s the son of the civil rights leader, the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Kelly has said she’s ready for the challenge and had already considered where to set up constituent offices in the district that overlaps with some of her old legislative district. Kelly served two terms as a representative in the Illinois House.

Voter turnout was low in several parts of the district. Tuesday’s special election coincided with municipal elections — not including Chicago, which elected its mayor and City Council in 2011. Early estimates for city precincts were roughly 8 percent with an anticipated 12 percent by the end of the day. Election officials said turnout was higher than the 2009 special election to replace Rahm Emanuel, who left Congress to be President Obama’s chief of staff. In that year, roughly 10 percent of city voters went to the polls.

Turnout was higher in the suburbs, particularly areas with contested municipal elections.

Jackson, who has stayed out of the public eye since his medical leave last summer, has not emerged publicly since his federal court hearing in February, where his wife Sandi Jackson also pleaded guilty. He faces up to 57 months — more than four years — in prison and a fine, under a plea deal with prosecutors.